MANILA, Reuters – Authorities raised an alert and evacuated more than a thousand people from a volcano that is small but active south of Manila.

Alert for Taal volcano was raised to 3 levels from 2 by the volcanology and seismology agency. The Taal volcano is located about 70km (45 miles) southwest of central Manila. This means that there has been magmatic intrusion at its main crater, which could further fuel subsequent eruptions.

Renato Solidum of DZMM Radio Station stated that magma from the shallow part was effected by water and caused an eruption known as phreatomagmatic activation.

Solidum claimed that there would be no explosive activity like the January 2020 volcano eruption. Also, the volcanic ash plume could not reach communities in the center of the lake.

According to the disaster agency, authorities evacuated over 1,100 people living near the volcano’s lakeside community. Fisherman and fish cage workers were among those evacuated.

Taal sent a 15-kilometer column of steam and ash up to Taal in January 2020. This forced over 100,000 people from their homes and caused dozens of cancellations. Heavy ash was also seen as far as Manila.

Taal is one the world’s smaller active volcanoes. Although it is small at 311m (1,000 feet), its eruptions can prove deadly. It was the site of more than 1300 deaths in an eruption that occurred in 1911.

The Philippines is located on the Ring of Fire, a band of volcanoes that circles the Pacific Ocean and which can also be prone to earthquakes.